Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

Before we get started, I want to encourage anyone reading today's post to click on Nitty Gritty under My Blog List. Read Jody's July 29 and July 30 posts about losing her four year-old daughter, Teagan, eight years ago. The posts will make you appreciate your children, your husband, your family and the moments you have with them so much more. She is simply amazing, and time and time again after reading her blog it helps me focus on the "now." Please take a few minutes to read this today.

Also, if you are into coupons and getting the most out of your buck, click on I'm Just Telling My Story. Monique is finding AMAZING bargains everywhere, and she's sharing how to do it as she goes along. I've tried several of her suggestions, and it's a lot of fun.

The final pics in the gallery are of another Faulkner Family tradition... Peach Park. We are not alone in celebrating this "on the way to the beach" and "on the way back from the beach" tradition. I know many other families who enjoy homemade peach ice cream and other treats at this wonderful little spot on the globe in Clanton, Alabama. The question is never asked, "Are you stopping at Peach Park?" Instead, "How much longer before we see the giant peach?" It's a given!

Weekend Happenings - The weekend is a little random, but fun. Mikie and I have a date tonight because all the grandkids are going to Top of the River to eat with Grandmother. I think we're just staying at home and eating Hawaiian chicken on the deck with all the tiki torches lit. Doesn't that sound fun? Can someone bring over some really good Hawaiian chicken around 6:00? And some rice to go with that, please?

Saturday will be spent finalizing computer/camera/X-Box shopping for Austin's move to JSU next week. If you've known me for less than a second, you know my eyes have now rolled all the way into the back of my head at the thought of having to spend ANY time computer/camera/X-Box shopping... so this will be special time spent between Austin and Mikie.

Sunday evening, the Faulkner Five are planning on going to the Dollar Movie to enjoy Night at the Museum 2. Only the women in our family saw this movie when it came out, but I know the guys will enjoy it, too.

That's it in a nutshell. I'm always interested to see how many things change from Friday evening to Monday morning. (I'm almost POSITIVE the Techno Shopping Trip will stay "as is." I AM NOT going to rob Mikie and Austin of that memory!)

Slightly Boring Beach Tale #4 - Typically, the day we leave is souvenir day. We don't want to waste what little time we have on the beach during a mini vacation shopping at Alvin's... but since we were leaving anyway, it was the perfect opportunity to stop and shop before we hit the road.

Roxie had decided beforehand on an airbrush t-shirt... with a beach look... with a volleyball emblazoned across the back. Yeah. They'll have tons of those. In actuality, they did have a "template" for a volleyball with a flame coming out from the side... but "beachy" it was not. After much deliberation of colors, etc., it did indeed become more "beachy" and definitely more "feminine." It was fun watching the guy turn an ordinary white t-shirt into a unique "thing of beauty."

While we were waiting, Austin bought a couple of t-shirts and Josh bought a muscle shirt. I remember the days when Austin's favorite souvenir, no matter where we were, was a jar of "slime." In any shape or form, if there was "slime" in the souvenir shop, Austin paid good money for it. We've had "slime" from at least seven different states... from at least 12 different trips. You can't imagine my delight the year he finally picked up a cap... to go with his "slime" purchase. But, things have certainly changed.

Other than the "teenage boys driving in traffic" scenario I spoke of earlier in the week, the trip home was very uneventful. We made good time (for us), and we reached Peach Park before it closed. Again, four out of five Faulkners were able to enjoy the wonderful ice cream at Peach Park. And once again, the only sugar-free flavors offered were vanilla and butter pecan! (I GIVE UP! Does anyone even eat butter pecan? Yuck!)

The trip was short, but declared a success by the Faulkner Five. For the most part, we are "mountain" people. However, we always enjoy a couple of days at the beach whenever possible. You can get great fudge in the mountains, but I have yet to have a good plate of fried crab claws there!

Book

I guess this week's book is no surprise. Austin was given A Young Man After God's Own Heart by Jim George as a graduation gift, and he has thoroughly enjoyed reading it this summer.

I love the description on the back cover. "Pursuing God really is an adventure -- one that can sometimes get extreme. Becoming a young man after God's own heart is a lot like climbing a mountain. You'll find all kinds of challenges on the way up! But the awesome view at the top is well worth the trip. As you go higher and higher, you'll experience the thrill of knowing real success in life -- the kind that counts with God. And it all starts by learning God's priorities for you."

After sitting through several college orientation speeches about "letting your son become a man," and hearing the words "experimenting" and "questioning" several times that day, it was wonderful to know the man God wants Austin to become is so much more than the world's definition of a "real man." And what young man doesn't want "adventure" in his life? And not just a worldly adventure, but an exciting Godly adventure! Yes!

The books talks about building your faith, choosing the right kinds of friends, getting along at home, making wise choices about the future and fighting the battle against temptation. I couldn't have picked a better book for Austin to read and enjoy before beginning this new chapter of his life.

Have a great weekend, folks! Summer is slip-sliding away, so make the most of each and every day. August will have started over the weekend, so we'll be doing a lot of back-to-school "stuff" next week. Also, since Austin will be moving next Friday, I'll be on much heavier medication in the coming days, so it might make for some entertaining reading... or not. You just never know!

Take care, and I'll talk to you Monday.